SKI TECHNIQUE WITH
MARK JONES
Taming the Bumps Beast
Mark Jones gives an insight into how to tackle terrain most skiers try to avoid: the bumps!
Bumps skiing isn’t often top of the wish list for many skiers. It’s seen as an insurmountable hurdle that’s better to steer around or ignore altogether. However, particularly after a fresh snowfall or random slope grooming, they will make a strong appearance and can be completely unavoidable.
Ultimately there will come a time where, as a skier, you have to take on the challenge and immerse yourself in this type of terrain. The surprising part is that, after learning a few new skills and getting some quality mileage in, they can become fun, and even mildly addictive.
When skied well, bumps will add another dimension to your skiing. Here’s a basic guide to help you embrace all they have to offer.
STEERING
Steering your skis in bumps is a whole new ball game when compared to any other type of skiing. It’s a particular skill set that requires some practice time before venturing into the dreaded moguls. Before moving into the bumps, practice making these types of steering movements on easier terrain:
With a narrow stance try to practice making skiddy, very rotary turns down the fall line. This means skiing a narrow corridor at a slow consistent speed.
Get used to steering the skis with a low edge angle so they can scrape and skid against the snow easily.
Learn to use skidding as your main method of speed control.
Practice predominantly steering the skis with your legs, rather than your whole body.
Try to maintain a stable, quiet upper body.
Use an accurate pole plant.
These steering skills are not the norm on groomed runs and it takes time to learn these new moves, but they aren’t complicated. It makes sense to get a good handle on how these steering inputs feel before trying out bumps on a regular basis.
TACTICS
As a skier, it’s relatively easy to work out what type of turns you need to make while skiing the bumps. Often the harder skill to learn is making the right tactical decisions. On first acquaintance it can seem daunting – where do you turn in the sea of bumps that confronts you?
There are many different choices of line that work well in this type of terrain: here’s a progression of tactics that can work well tailored to your ability level.
FIRST-TIMERS
Try to use the ridge lines and tops of the bumps as the point where you start to turn your feet and move into the new direction. That spot on the top of a bump is a great place to start the turn as there is less contact between the ski and the snow, and so a lot less resistance to turning. If you use this line, it’s crucial to really slow down your speed before going for the turn, so you have time to turn your feet and legs in the right place.
WELL-PRACTICED
Once you have a fair bit of mileage under your legs, and are starting to feel more confident and relaxed, you can start to focus on skiing directly down the fall line on a bump run. This will mean that you’ll have to adjust the place where you start the turn.
Look at the upslope of the bump facing you as the new place to brush off speed. Turn the skis enough so they are scraping sideways against the snow as you move onto the upside of the bump. The speed should drop quickly, allowing you to use the lower shoulder of the same bump as the new spot to turn your feet into the new direction. This line will allow you to turn from bump to bump directly down the hill, rather than having to cross over some of them before making a turn.
HOTSHOTS
Once you feel well established in the bumps, can vary your speeds and are comfortable in difficult terrain, you can start to vary the lines you use to help control speed and work with the types of bumps you have in front of you. As you move down the fall line, connecting each bump, you can either use a ‘high’ line or a ‘low’ line.
The low line means using a direct line where you stay within the rut line between the bumps. You’ll have to make quick turns, being fast to make flexion extension movements with your legs to absorb the impacts.
The high line means taking rounder arcs and using the upside of the bump almost like a berm to steer your skis into the new turn. This line works well on big, well-formed bumps.
Learning the specific movements of how to turn in the bumps is a relatively straightforward process. Actually applying them in this terrain takes time, repetition and lots of quality practice time. However, once you have the basics and put in the work, it can be incredibly satisfying to be able to finally master the beast.
Once you’re armed with the right skills, you’ll discover bumps can be fun, adding another dimension to your skiing
FACTFILE
Mark is a trainer for BASI (The British Association of Snowsport Instructors) and holds the highest level 4 qualification. He is the director of ICE (icesi.org), a training centre in Val d’Isère, which focuses on high performance training for keen skiers and gaining instructor qualifications. Mark has represented BASI and Great Britain four times at the international INTERSKI congress.